Why belly dance? |Everything about the dance is beautiful; the music, the movement, the energy! I grew up listening to and dancing to middle eastern music with my family, so for me there's always been a related personal connection and sense of nostalgia.

How long have you been at Saffron? |It'll be three years in January! Can't believe it.

How did you find Saffron Dance, and what keeps you coming back? |A close friend and I initially signed up for a crash course together. I was immediately hooked! Over the years, I have met some truly amazing ladies who are like family to me. These relationships, alongside the sense of community at Saffron, have kept me motivated and coming back for more!

What were your thoughts after your first class? My initial reaction was, "Ahhh, so fun!" I also remembered being slightly bummed that I hadn't discovered the studio sooner.

Can you speak a bit about your experience in Student Company and working closely with faculty and fellow dancers? I can't say enough positive things about being in student company! Student company provides you an opportunity to grow and develop as a dancer under an atmosphere of safety, comradery, and support. While the rewards of challenging yourself are great, there's something even greater about challenging one another and working together as a team towards a common goal. Being in a company gives you a chance to cultivate relationships with others from many walks of life. As I mentioned earlier, I am grateful for many of the friendships I have developed while at Saffron. With that said, none of this can be accomplished without the dedication and guidance of a fearless leader. For me, this leadership has been boldly marked by knowledge, artistry, genuineness, laughter, and friendship. I consider myself so lucky to have been trained under the watchful eye of those whose mission it is to help you succeed and to discover your potential. It can be quite liberating!

I just want to say that I am very thankful for the experiences I have had thus far at Saffron. I'm excited to see what's in store!

How she inspires us | "I mess up all the time, but it's all done out of love, and we still support each other." With those now famous words from from our latest "Welcome to Saffron" video, Mo became the self-proclaimed and gently blushing "Poster Child for Mistakes." I couldn't be prouder. Why? Because being the "Poster Child for Mistakes" is no small job. The qualifications include: eagerness for embracing the unknown, equanimity when you're in above your head, and most important of all, the willingness to fail frequently in front of others. Our hyper-competitive society would have us believe that these are the characteristics of a foolish loser, but I'll tell you what they really are. These are the hallmarks of someone who is incredibly brave and someone who knows how to open up her life to new and rewarding experiences. "Poster Child for Mistakes" is really code for "Incredibly Brave Warrior Queen." Someone who embraces the ups and downs along the path to success, and encourages others to do the same with her enveloping love and warmth. So let's give a hearty round of applause to our November belly dance inspiration, the bold and beautiful Mo!